Abstract

Nicotine administration has an inverse relationship with body weight. Cigarette smoking reduces food intake, and a carbohydrate-specific craving often develops after cessation of smoking. The effect of nicotine administration on hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels, an endogenous potent appetite stimulant, particularly for carbohydrate was assessed in a 12 day study in rats.

Three groups of rats were implanted (s.c.) with mini-osmotic pumps, one group containing nicotine dihydrochloride (12mg/kg /day n=8) and two groups containing saline (0.9% n=8,8). The nicotine treated rats and one of the saline groups were allowed to free-feed for twelve days.

The second saline treated group were pair-fed to the level of food intake of the nicotine treated rats.